Box Score The Chico State baseball team has it all going for it right now, kind of like a Western Bacon Cheeseburger. Nick Baker put up onion rings in the first six innings on the way to a complete-game victory. Cody Webber provided the meat of the offense with five RBI, including a three-run homer during the Carl’s Jr. Home Run Inning to send everyone in attendance home with a coupon for a free Western Bacon Cheeseburger. And the defense held it all together like two delicious buns, handing 20 ground balls and five fly-outs without making an error in Chico State’s 6-2 win against Cal State San Bernardino Friday night at Nettleton Stadium.
It was the 10th straight win for the 5th-ranked Wildcats, who improved to 24-5 on the season and remained atop the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings at 17-4.
Webber stretched his hitting streak to 10 games with a bloop two-run double in the first and Cal State San Bernardino (11-18, 5-16 CCAA) could never ketchup.
Baker improved to 6-0 with his five-hitter. He allowed just two hits over the first six frames while becoming the eighth pitcher in Chico State history to win the 20th game of his career. The junior right-hander was throwing heavy strikes all night. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out one, needing only 101 pitches for his first collegiate complete game.
Pierson Jeremiah singled and scored twice to stretch his hitting streak to nine games, during which he’s hitting .526 (20-for-38). His bunt single after Eric Angerer was hit by a pitch for the 19th time this season leading off the first set the table for Webber’s two-run double. (Angerer has now been plunked 33 times in his career, matching Daniel Code for the second most in Chico State history, 12 behind all-time leader Robby Poole).
Jeremiah singled and scored on Blake Gibbs’ third-inning double as Chico State stretched its lead to 3-0.
Webber delivered the big blow in the fifth. Angerer led off with a single and stole second with two out to leave first base open. The Coyotes walked Gibbs and Webber launched a majestic shot over the right-field wall for his first home run of the season, giving Chico State a 6-0 lead.
The Coyotes scored single runs in the seventh and eighth before Baker retired the final six batters without allowing a ball to leave in the infield. Only six Cal State San Bernardino batters hit a ball that reached the outfield all night.
The series continues with a doubleheader Saturday at noon and concludes with a single game Sunday at 11. That means three more chances for free cheeseburgers this weekend for Chico State’s fans.
